Crohn's disease in Tuzla region of Bosnia and Herzegovina: a 12-year study (1995-2006).

BACKGROUND

Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is one of the Eastern European countries with lacking data on Crohn's disease (CD) epidemiology.

GOAL

We aimed to assess incidence of CD in Tuzla Canton of B&H during a 12-year period (1995-2006).

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated hospital records of both CD inpatients and outpatients residing in Tuzla Canton of B&H (total of 496,280 inhabitants) between 1995 and 2006. Patient that satisfied previously described criteria were included in the study. Incidence rates were calculated with age standardisation using European standard population. Trends in incidence were evaluated as moving 3-year averages.

RESULTS

During the observed period, 140 patients met the diagnostic criteria for CD. Mean annual incidence was found to be 2.3/10(5) (95% CI=1.6-3.0) inhabitants ranging from 0.20 to 6.45 per 10(5). Mean annual crude incidence during the last 5 years of study (2002-2006) was 4.15/10(5) (95% CI=3.35-4.95). The prevalence of CD, at the end of the observed period was found to be 28.2/10(5) (95% CI=23.5-32.9). CD incidence increased dramatically from 0.27/10(5) in 1995-1997 to 4.84/10(5) in 2004-2006, as well as did the number of colonoscopies performed; from 29 in 1995 to 850 in 2006. We observed almost constant trend of around three new cases of CD per 100 colonoscopies performed.

CONCLUSIONS

(1)Our area is the region of moderate incidence of CD with the trend that remains toward continuing increase in the rates of CD, which is most likely a direct consequence of the growing number of performed colonoscopies. (2) We believe that in the future years, CD incidence in our region will probably further increase and stabilise at a level of around five cases per 10(5) inhabitants.